Estes Leads Colleagues on Letter to POTUS: UK DSTs are Discriminatory to US

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) led 21 of his colleagues on a letter to President Donald Trump supporting his efforts to get rid of discriminatory Digital Services Taxes (DSTs), specifically focusing on the U.K.'s DST. These taxes sponge economic profit away from American innovators and workers, resulting in American dollars being shifted into foreign coffers. Since 2020, more than $3 billion has been collected by the U.K.'s Digital Services Tax.

The full letter can be found below.

Background:

June 2025 - Rep. Estes Reacts To Canada's Removal Of DSTs

June 2025 - Rep. Estes Sends Letter to POTUS Urging Removal of Canada's DST

March 2025 - Newsweek: Congressman: Trump Is Helping U.S. Retake Control of Its Own Tax Policy | Opinion

February 2025 - Rep. Estes Commends Administration on DST Investigation

June 2024 - Rep. Estes Condemns Canada's Digital Services Tax

March 2023 - Reps. Estes, Kildee Introduce Resolution Condemning Foreign Digital Services Taxes (DSTs)

March 2023 - Rep. Estes Questions Biden Trade Ambassador Tai on DSTs

January 2020 - Rep. Estes Pens Letter to the Editor in Response to French Economic Minister on DSTs

July 2019 - Rep. Estes Applauds Investigation of French Digital Tax

April 2019 - Rep. Estes in Fox Business: US must challenge France's shakedown of American tech companies

Dear President Trump,

We write to express our serious concerns regarding the United Kingdom's discriminatory digital services tax (DST) and urge you to seek its removal as soon as possible. The UK's DST collected $1 billion in 2024 alone, and an estimated $3.1 billion between 2021 and 2024, almost entirely from American companies. The UK itself has stated that 90% of the DST is paid by five companies, which the U.S. Trade Representative believes to all be American owned companies. This discriminatory action undermines American innovation and captures the U.S. tax base.

We applaud you for your attention and action combating discriminatory DSTs that target U.S. companies. We are deeply appreciative of your recent comments that digital taxes must end immediately and that "American Technology Companies, are neither the 'piggy bank' nor the 'doormat' of the World any longer." You have demonstrated a focus on eliminating these unfair trading practices from our partners and you have delivered wins for American companies, most notably Canada's commitment to withdraw its DST. Additionally, India also ended its DST and New Zealand withdrew its DST legislation in response to your resolve.

The UK's insistence to maintain its DST contradicts its commitment to treat U.S. companies fairly, and if permitted to continue, will set a dangerous precedent for other countries, including those that continue to levy DSTs on U.S. companies or others, such as Poland and Slovakia, that are proposing new DSTs. It is therefore essential that the UK removes this tax promptly.

As you prepare for the upcoming U.S.-UK Leaders' Summit, we urge you to prioritize securing a commitment that the UK will remove its DST. Should the UK fail to agree, we believe reopening the Section 301 investigation into the DST would be a necessary and appropriate action.